About 8 Minute Read: In the Midst of the Coronavirus -- Hope

"We each need to make sense of coronavirus in three different ways: intellectually, emotionally and spiritually. All are important—and together they present a formidable challenge to anyone."

Mathematician and apologist John C. Lennox sincerely believes this, and I agree. Thus, it makes sense that an apologist is someone who doesn't fit the typical description of a religious person -- they argue for their belief system on an objective, rational level. 

It would take me a while to get my hands on a physical copy of Lennox's book "Where is GOD in a Coronavirus World?" but fortunately, the kind hearts (and minds!) at RZIM have published a free excerpt. 

I don't keep up with the news, and information I get about issues of the large world around me usually comes from my family. I do know that tens of thousands of people, at least, have already perished from this dreary phenomena. So it's very serious -- we are in the midst of unmistakable evil.  

Or are we? Lennox explains two different kinds of events we call evil. The first is moral evil, which is when someone deliberately hurts someone else, and the second is natural evil, which is when an earthquake or hurricane, etc., robs and kills and destroys. 

But one must wonder why we are saying the unconscious forces of the earth do things that should not happen. I mean, hasn't our home always been this way? And earthquakes don't know better. Look: school exists today to shape the formation of an adult by giving them a education about what's true. For example: In U.S. History II I learned people had complaints because it made "slackers" out of kids when they should work on the farm; but nowadays we know better. (Oh the irony!) 

So it's not surprising that they do things such as have little slips of paper that say "It's my choice!" or give out "Pawsitives" to students who have been caught doing good things. But I'm disappointed the only time God can be considered to be consciously supported is during the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Famous atheist Richard Dawkins said in a famous quote I have cited multiple times already in this blog (emphasis mine):

"In a universe of blind physical forces and genetic replication, some people are going to get hurt, other people are going to get lucky, and you won't find any rhyme or reason in it, nor any justice. The universe we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at the bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil and no other good. Nothing but blind, pitiless indifference. DNA neither knows nor cares. DNA just is. And we dance to its music."

You see, atheist philosophers and experts know life can't have any objective morality if it wasn't made with an intent in Mind. And even if our existence could, that doesn't mean we could fulfill it. If the forces of nature are really our only creator, we are biologically determined to commit all actions, good or bad, because our lone cause has nothing like free will -- just a natural domino effect, like earthquakes or hurricanes.

Now consider a religious answer to Dawkins' opinion. I will use John Lennox's quote from Italian journalist Mattia Ferraresi:

 "Holy water is not a hand sanitizer and prayer is not a vaccine.... 

"But for believers, religion is a fundamental source of spiritual healing and hope. It's a remedy against despair, providing psychological and emotional support that is an integral part of well-being. (It's also an antidote to loneliness, which several medical experts point to as one of the most worrisome public health issues of our time.)

 "At a deeper level, religion, for worshipers, is the ultimate source of meaning. The most profound claim of every religion is to make sense of the whole of existence, including, and perhaps especially, circumstances marked by suffering and tribulation. Take such claims seriously enough, and even physical health, when it is devoid of greater purpose, starts to look like a hollow value." 

A common response to the choices and views of these people is the opposite belief. Religion is just something embraced by humans who can't deal with the obviously true conclusion that there is no "Divine Guy in the sky," and their suffering is meaningless. 

(Again with nature's moral implications: how can things not be the way they should, when life never had a point in the first place?)

But my question is, who says it's not the other way around? 

The Billy Graham Evangelical Association, founded by late unbelievably famous Christian evangelist Billy Graham, tried to help people find through the internet "hope in Christ, in the midst of this crisis." They have trained volunteers "all over the place" who are using technology in an attempt to support the suffering masses. So what happened? Did Jesus move on the world?

In their first weeks, over a hundred thousand people have come to their landing pages, and over ten thousand "have indicated decisions for Christ." 

The popular Bible app called YouVersion has witnessed the effect this scary situation has had on the citizens of the globe. They say,

"While we're all facing challenges in the middle of a global pandemic, what you may not realize is that we're also experiencing a season of great spiritual awakening. All over the world, people are searching for answers and hope. And what millions are finding is an invitation into a relationship with God."

 In the month of March, they've seen over 1.6 million new prayers.

Then, in New York, the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team was (and surely still is) working alongside a Samaritan's Purse emergency field hospital. Samaritan's Purse is an organization that sends out thousands of shoe boxes lay people fill up, with gifts for children in third-world countries. And of course, they do many other things to bless the world by shining their light for Jesus.

The evangelical chaplains have a red and black "Sharing Hope in Crisis" tent, where doctors, nurses, and local residents during their normal walk outside come across this group. Kevin Williams, the man leading the chaplain team in NYC, said about those that inquire and/or pray in their tent: "Many of them are like Nicodemuses. They have an idea what this is all about, they have an idea about that hope. They want it..."

Williams referenced John chapter 3 in the Bible. Maybe it sounds familiar to you; I hope it does. There, a distinguished member of the Jewish council, who were against Jesus, sought Him alone to ask questions. But what this Gospel is most famous for is its John 3:16. For God so loved the world He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

That's what God is showing His favorite creations, throughout the world. 

I recently went through the Gospel of Mark to write an argument for Jesus being an undeniable miracle-worker. I've quoted famous skeptic Bart Ehrman to support my case six times so far -- and have just gotten passed the beginning. 

In Mark, virtually everywhere Jesus went, He could be caught healing the demon-possessed and physically sick. Jesus also claimed to be the "Son of Man," which is an Old Testament reference for God (Mark 9:31 and 14:62; Daniel 7:13-14; for a defense see this post here). God is doing today what He was doing back then. Although Jesus isn't present on the earth anymore and immediately restoring temporary illnesses, He has secured a spot in Heaven -- a perfect place for friendship with no more pain and suffering -- for so many new people! 

That can't be stressed enough. Before this horrible pandemic, our fellow humans were numb to Jesus's message of assured deliverance from the problem-riddled world. Before now, they were like those from Jesus's hometown in Mark chapter 6, who didn't receive many miracles at all because of their lack of faith. 

Now I'm not trying to make you hang your head and feel bad because God knows everyone has done wrong things and need to be forgiven. If I did, I would be a hypocrite because God wants us to admit to Him ASAP that only Jesus can save us because He took the punishment for our sins, because God loves us. There doesn't need to be a time of wallowing in guilt. God has more to say than just "No one is good -- except God alone." Mark 10:18 

Jesus said in Mark 9:41, "Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward." 1 Corinthians 2:9 tells us, "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, what no human mind has conceived -- the things God has prepared for those who love Him."

What about you? Will God have to keep after you, even if the Coronavirus is defeated? Or will you also believe that Jesus loves you so much He died on the cross for your sins, and then proved we will be brought back to life because He couldn't stay dead?

Now I'm sure some of you reading this have a life which has been full of strife, with no apparent way out, and it seems that if God really wanted to get your attention, He could/would/should have done more than -- to paint an approximate picture -- just let you know some people believe in a "Divine Guy in the sky." I'm sorry you feel this way. I don't know why that situation is. I could try to guess, but I really don't know. (I'm also sorry we have to adapt to all online schooling, which definitely can be another strife). What I do know is that Christianity gives what atheism can't: the free will to make a decision that will finally free you from evil and into Heaven for all eternity. Technically, I do know a reason the Coronavirus was allowed to fill the earth (emphasis on the single participle) was/is because it points people to the hope God knows they need... but that's practically all I can be sure of.

John Lennox summarizes: 

"Therefore, a Christian is not so much a person who has solved the problem of pain, suffering and the coronavirus, but who has come to love and trust a God who has Himself suffered. ... 

"Perhaps the coronavirus might function as a huge loudspeaker, reminding us of the ultimate statistic: that one out of every one of us dies. If this induces us to look to the God we may have ignored for years, but who wore a crown of thorns in order to bring us back into relationship with Him and into a new, unfractured world beyond death, then the coronavirus, in spite of the havoc it has wreaked, will have served a very healthy purpose." 

During a time of being quarantined to our homes, it is more obvious now than probably ever that what we put in our heads effect us. I, as a fellow human being experiencing life, ask you to do something(s) like read the Bible (maybe try the YouVersion app in lack of a printed one), listen to online sermons (here's a place with the encouraging message of God's grace), and good Christian music (it really isn't all just hymns! Try 104.1, 92.7, or 96.3 FM; there should be artists like TobyMac and his song appropriate to this post or Switchfoot).

If you want to discuss with me about God's love and suffering, please first see at least this major post where I have a much broader scope (and say where Dawkins' quote came from). But it should be worth reading as well the content in this post under the heading "The Ethical Problem of Evil." But if you don't want to, and post a comment, that's no problem; I will answer it the best I can, the thing is I might just point you to a specific place in one of them.

But if that interests you, don't stop there! To see my attempt to undermine the very foundation of atheism, see here. There also is some more information under the heading "Humans were Supernaturally Created with Their Consciousness and Reasoning." You are welcome to entertain yourself with any post that you find interesting. Most importantly, for a three-page argument for the resurrection of Jesus, see the google doc here. 

It is there, at Jesus's sacrifice, that our heads, and our hearts, can find healing.

Thank you for reading!